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depakote to lamictal to depakote???
Mon, 06/05/2006 - 00:57Topic: Medication Issues
My 16 year old son had been on Depakote ER since he was 2 years old. His seizures were very well controlled unless he were to hit his head then he would have a grand mal seizure. When he reached puberty he gradually gained weight. He got up to 215 lbs. and he's only 5'10". He never exercised and he ate a lot! We decided to change his meds to lamictal (900 mg.), work with a personal trainer 3 times a week, and change his eating habits. He currently weighs 192lbs and looks great and his self esteem is so much better! BUT he's had 4 breakthrough seizures - the last seizure resulted in a horrible faceplant and I was sick to my stomach when I saw him; I felt so guilty. He also started having double vision and his mouth is dry all the time. His Dr. recommended he try Keppra or Zonegran. I want him to go back to the Depakote ER and this time we will do all we can to help him maintain his weight. Does being on Depakote mean you will gain weight inspite of diet and exercise? He obviously doesn't want to have anymore seizures, but he's afraid he'll put the pounds back on. Plus, I don't like what I've been reading on Zonegran or Keppra. I am sitting on the fence on what to do.
Comments
Re: Re: depakote to lamictal to depakote???
Submitted by psgravitt on Tue, 2006-06-06 - 17:55
He's been on lamictal at 900 mg. for 3 weeks. He had a seizure at 800 mg. which is why we increased the dose. When I gave him 450 mg. at breadfast (on a full stomach), he got the double vision 2 hours later and it lasted about 15 mins. He's now back down to 800 mg. until school's over then I'll start introducing the Depakote ER. His Dr. said that he may have seizures during the tritration stage.
Re: Re: Re: depakote to lamictal to depakote???
Submitted by stamp on Tue, 2006-06-06 - 18:11
hey I just got you re-ply thanks.
Hope all is well.
I had fallen back in march, and had to skip work.
Saw the Dr and he increassed my medds. The lamactal and the keppra.
I was on two hundred am and three hundred pm. For a long time
Anyway the Dr increased the lamactal to two hundred three times a day.
And increased the keppra. The I ment with a new Dr and she decreased every thing
I got so sick I was nausses all the time
Finally went to the hospital and the Dr was like she is on way too much medds. So the keppra and the lamactal was decreassed.
The following week I met with a new dr, and she decreassed it again and put me on some depokote er.
have to say since I had the worst heache!
Re: depakote to lamictal to depakote???
Submitted by stamp on Tue, 2006-06-06 - 17:43
Hey, It's me. How long has he been on 900mg of lamctal? Anyway I am slowley being put on depokote er and slowley reducing the lamactal keppra situation. It is great that he well motivated! The double vision was the reason I got off depokote. Then last month after a week of being put on depokote er500mg I remembered why I got off of it. Now last week I started at 250 2 times aday now this week i am 250 in am and 500 at night. Visions been fine so far.